“WHO ME?”…Gift

A large crowd, 5,000 people, were gathered by the lake to be with Jesus and hear him teach. They were hungry and Jesus wanted to feed them. The disciples were concerned about where to buy enough bread, and how much it would cost. Then Andrew said, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” (John 6:9)

Then the boy offered his lunch as a gift…all of it.

( “The Offering” by Jean Pederson)

Jesus took this gift, offered thanks, broke the bread, and fed the people…all of them.

( Painting by Cheri Bladholm from “Small Gifts in God’s Hands” by Max Lucado)

This surely was a moment in the lives of all these people which they will never forget! How could one small gift make such a huge difference? Was it the child’s heart of generosity? Was it the miracle in Jesus’ prayer of thanksgiving as he lifted the loaves and fishes up to Heaven? Did it happen the moment Jesus broke the bread? Was it the community of people who all participated in breaking the portion of bread they received and joyfully shared with others? How DID that miracle keep multiplying?

The words that keep echoing in my heart are “There is a boy here…”. It had to start somewhere. Perhaps it begins with someone who has the unreserved, uninhibited gift of giving like a child. Jesus receives it and works a miracle.

Something about this story brought forth for me a memory of my last days at a church I was serving. “There was a boy there…” who placed his prayer in the offering plate on my last Sunday.

Then the whole crowd gathered around laying hands on me with their prayer of blessing. ( I am somewhere in the middle). Shoulder to shoulder, hand to hand, the prayers multiplied.